Cooling apparatus



I. HECHENBLEIKNER.

COOLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17, 1918.

1,331,500. Patented Feb. 24,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I ING-ENUIN HECl-IENBLEIKNER, CHARLGTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO CHEMICAL CONSTRUCTION COBIPANY, CF CEARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, A COR- PORATION OF NORTH CAROLINA.

CO'JLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24:, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TNGENUIN HEoHnN- BLEIKNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Meeklenburg and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cooling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of nitric acid, particularly from gases containing nitrogen oxids resulting from the treatment of air by the electric arc, or nitrogen oxids ob tained from other sources, it is necessary or desirable that the gases be cooled to reduce their temperature and also oxidized to convert the nitri oxid (NO) to nitrogen per oxid (N0 The object .of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus forcooling these or other gases in nitric acid processes; but the invention is not limited to this use, since the apparatus may be utilized wherever it maybe found suitable.

The cooling of large bodies of gases incident to the processes referredto is a matter of considerable difiiculty, and the present apparatus has been designed to proyide a rapid and eflicient means for the deslred purpose. It embodies in one of its forms an elongated chamber or passage through which the gases flow and depending into this chamber are a multiplicity of what I call cooler tubes through which water is caused to fiow so that the gases in passing through the conduit flow around or between the tubes, thereby exposing a large surface for the heat exchange action. Each tube contains within the same a filler or inner section which displaces most of the capacity of the tube and causes the water to flow in a film or relatively thin sheet in contact with the inner surface of the wall of the tube. The tubes are of the spur type, that is, they are closed at the lower end, water being supplied through a central pipe to the bottom of the tube and rising as it is heated to the top where it overflows into troughs.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of one of the tubes. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of part 'of an apparatus illustrating the manner in which the tubes are .used. Fig. is a. vertical section taken on a plane at rightangles to the plane. of Fig. 2.

My U. S. Patent No. 1,311,395, which is a division of this case, shows the structtue containing the chambers in which the cooling tubes are used. Each of the cooling chambers is provided with amultiplicity of depending cooler tubes which extend through openings in the roof or top of the chambers as shown in said patent. These tubes may be made of any suitable material. Those in the chambers 1 and 2 of said patent are preferably acid proof iron, because of the high temperatures. Those in the chamber 3 of said patent may be stoneware. A tube is shown in detail. in Fig. 5 of said patent. It comprises an outer or spur tube 20, closed at the bottom and open at the top. lVithin this outer tube is a metal drum or filler consisting of a cylinder 21 closed at the top and bottom, and provided at its lower end with a projecting foot 22 which rests upon the bottom of the outer tube and supports the filler therein. The filler is also spaced from the outer tube by spacers 23 thereby forming an annular space of small area through which the water flows upwardly in contact with the inner surface of the outer tube. Water is supplied to the bottom of each tube by a central pipe 24 which extends lengthwise through the drum, and this pipe has a funnel 25 at the top by which it is supplied from any suitable water supply. This supply conveniently consists of a system of piping indicated in Fig. 2 of said patent. Obviously any convenient system of water supply may be used. It is to be noted, however, there is a separate water supply to each tube and a separate overflow from each tube and the water does not pass through one tube after passing through another.

The gases to be cooled are conducted back and forth through the chambers as described in said patent and in passing through the cooling chambers they flow between or in contact with the depending cooler tubes in the cooling chambers, these cooler tubes being supplied with a flow of water in the manner indicated. The cooler tubes are particularly advantageous with respect to the exposure of a large surface for heat exchange and the use of a comparatively small amount of water because of the film arrangement, and also with respect to the i I outer tube closed at the lower end and open at its upper end, a, displacing drum depending into the tube and spaced therefrom to form enennular passage between the tube and the drum, and means to supply cooling fluid to the lower end of the tube.

A tubefor a gas cooler, comprising an outer tube closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, an inner drum depending into the tube and'spaced therefrom, and 2L Water supply pipe extending through the drum and opening into the tube near the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature 25 in presence of tWo Witnesses.

' INGENUIN HECHENBLEIKNER. Vitnesses: v

' A. M. WELoH,' C. B; PORTER. 

